LaPorte County- A truck driver lost his life in a fiery crash on the Indiana Toll Road this afternoon. The driver has been identified as Kwame L. Lawson, 36 of Calumet City, Illinois.
Family has been notified.
See original release below:
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Trent Jones revealed at approximately 3:16 p.m., this Monday, June 6, 2016, afternoon, a 2011 Kenworth semi, owned by R.B. Humphreys Incorporated out of Rome, New York, was pulling a box trailer loaded with brownies, in the right lane east bound on the Indiana Toll Road at the 42 mile marker (this is two miles east of the US 421 exit) when it was hit from behind. The driver, Orville McDougall, 38 of Riviera Beach, Florida, was stopped at this location because of traffic backed up leading into the construction area ahead at the 49 mile marker (lanes go from two down to one).
A second semi, 2015 International pulling a box trailer, failed to slow down/stop and ran into the rear of McDougall’s trailer. The International semi caught fire and became fully engulfed, trapping the driver inside. The driver of the International was pronounced dead at the scene by the La Porte County Coroner.
McDougall was taken to Franciscan Saint Anthony’s Health Hospital in Michigan City for non-life threatening injuries. His load of brownies were coming from Joliet, Illinois going to Odenton, Maryland; there was no loss to his load.
The deceased driver’s semi was loaded with paper goods. The left lane east bound at the above location is still closed for off-loading of the paper goods and clean-up from the fire. It is unknown at this time how long that lane will be closed.
Traffic in this area is backed up and expect long delays. Please seek alternate routes!
